Warrant against former national swimmer Derya Büyükuncu over a tweet

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The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has announced that a warrant has been issued against former national swimmer Derya Büyükuncu over his social media post about President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who announced on Saturday (February 5) he and his spouse Emine Erdoğan have tested positive for COVID-19.

Over the same tweet, Derya Büyükuncu was also permanently deprived of his rights by the Turkish Swimming Federation yesterday (February 6).

Posting the written correspondence delivered to the ministry on social media, Minister of Youth and Sports Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu has also defined the swimmer's social media post "inhumane" and said that "the necessary is being done about this ugly act not suiting an athlete's morals."

In the related correspondence delivered to the ministry by the Turkish Swimming Federation, it was said that related expressions and writings of Büyükuncu were "posted on social media in such a way that they publicly addressed the President of the Republic of Turkey and his spouse."

According to the Federation, these expressions are against Article 34 of the Turkish Swimming Federation's Disciplinary Board Instruction.

Recalling that a judicial investigation has also been launched against Derya Büyükuncu by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the Swimming Federation of Turkey has announced that it has decided to definitely deprive the former national swimmer of his rights as a penalty as per the Article 34/2 of the Turkish Swimming Federation's Disciplinary Board Instruction.

Derya Büyükuncu tweeted, "He had the coronavirus and wants prayers. We pray; may he not worry. I have started cooking 20 pots of halva (a dessert traditionally served after one's passing). I will distribute it to the entire neighborhood when the time comes." (AÖ/SD)